Trolling device



April 27, 1943. A. M. DAVIDSON ET AL 2,317,445

TROLLING DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 27, 1943. A. M. DAVIDSON ETAL 2,317,445

TROLLING DEVICE Filed Sept. l2, 1941 2 Sheets-SheefI 2 HTTX Patented Apr. 27, 1943 l TROLLING DEVICE Allen M. Davidson and Clarence A. King, South Bend, Ind.

Application September 12, 1941, Serial No. 410,522

`(Cl. 248-42) Y 15 Claims.

This invention relates to trolling devices, and more particularly is concerned with a compact adjustable trolling device adapted to support a sh pole or the like in any desired position from within a boat, such as a row boat, canoe, or the like.

It is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a device of this character, which is adjustable to support the rod at any desired angle of elevation, at any desired angle laterally, and at any desired position relative to the seat of the boat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of this type which may be folded into a compact mass for easy transportation in a case or the like, and which can be rapidly unfolded and erected to allow the sh pole to be inserted therein in a minimum amount of time.

Primarily, the present invention contemplates a supporting member which is frictionally clamped at one end to the edge of a row boat seat or the like, and is supported at its other end by a strut member which extends to the bottom or oor of the boat. Mounted on the horizontally extending portion of the device which is clamped to the seat is an adjustable carrier member which may be moved forwardly and rearwardly, and also swung angularly in a horizontal plane, upon which is mounted a suitable socket mechanism for receiving the butt end of the shpole and which is adjustable to various angles, as well as an adjustable arm and saddle member for supporting the pole adjacent the forward end of the handle element, or approximately at the reel seat portion of the conventional type of casting rod. The saddle member is adjustable both angularly and vertically to Y support the pole in any desired angular position relative to a horizontal plane.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a section side elevational View of the device mounted in operative position;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the supporting strut at the forward end of the body member; e

Figure 3 illustrates the device in folded position ready for carrying;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device shown inFigure 3;

Figure 5 shows a modified arrangement for fclamping the device to a boat seat;

Figure 6 is a still further modification of the same clamping mechanism;

Figure 7 shows a still further modification of this clamping mechanism;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8--8 of Figure 1 of the saddle member receiving the pole; and 4 Figure 9 illustrates the manner in which the supporting strut is clamped to the body member when the device is folded for carrying.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a boat seat is indicated generally at 5 and, as is usual in such constructions, has a transverse edge portion 6 to which the trolling device is adapted vto be attached.

The trolling device comprises a body member I having at one end thereof a wing clamp nut 8 Which is adapted to clamp to the end of the body member 'i the spring clamp fingers 9 and IIl.

As sh-own in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the clamping members can be arranged in any desired `position relative to the body member I for clamping the body member below the plane of the seat, as shown in Figure 1, in the plane of the seat, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, or above the plane of the seat as shown in Figure 7, depending upon the spacing of the seat from the floor of the boat. It will be noted that Figures l and 7 are merely a reversal of the clamping arrangement, while in Figures 5 and 6, the elements 9 and I0 are reversed with respect to each other.

The body member 'Iy at; its opposite end, is provided with a hinge i2, the op-posite hinge element i3 thereof lbeing secured to a depending strut member Iii, shown more clearly in Figure 2. |The member l is thus hinged to swing about the free end of the body portion l, and, adjacent its lower end, is provided with the pointed spud 5. The spud I5 is adapted to be `pressed into the floor I6 of the boat and, as will be noted from Figure 2, is adjustable longitudinally of the member I4 within the slot I'I. The spud is clamped in any desired adjusted position by means of the wing nut i8 and the clamping washers I9 and 25.

Secured to the lower surface of the body member I by means of the screws 22 is a resilient catch or clip member 23 which, as shown in Figure 9, is adapted to receive between the ends 24 thereof the Spud member I5 for holding this spud and strut It in folded position when the device is not 1n use.

Mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the body portion I of the device is the rod supporting member 25. This member is supported yby means `of the sliding shoe members 26 and 2l engaging the opposite defining surfaces of a longitudinal slct 28 formed in the -body member 1. The shoe elements 25 and 2l are pressed toward each other by means of the wing nut 29 'carried by the stud 30, which stud extends through vthe position by drawing up on the stud 33.

' of the water.

rod supporting member 35 and thence through the slot 28. Tightening of the nut 29 will lock the member 25 in any adjusted position along the slot 28, thereby moving the member 25 toward or away from the boat seat 5.

The member 25 in turn is provided with a transversely extending longitudinal slot 32, which, as shown more clearly in Figure 8, re-

ceives the transverse pin 33 extending jthere- 1 through and supporting the arm members 34 in parallel arrangement. The arm members 34 are frictionally secured in any desired angular position relative to the carrier member 25 by means of the friction washers 3S which, by means of the wing nut 31, frictionally clamp the arms 34 in Thus the angular position of the arms relative to a horizontal plane can be adjusted, and the arms, of

course, can also be moved bodily throughout the n ,limits of the slot 32.

At their upper ends, the arms 34 provide lpivot journals for a U-shaped bracket member 38 which carries on the inner faces thereof the friction pieces 39 secured thereto by means of the screws 40. ,Suitable pins 42 form ypivotal supa The pole 43 is provided with the handle portion 44, as is customary, and also with a reel seat portion adapted to receive the reel 45. The two lower transverse posts of the reel are adapted to rest upon the upper dening edges of the friction pieces 39, whereby the pole is supported in position against rotation, and also is held in any desired angular relation with respect to the surface This saddle therefore constitutes a means for adjusting the vertical angularity of the pole and holding the pole against rotation.

At the end of the pole supporting member 25 adjacent the stud 33 there is provided the pivotally mounted socket member 46 having formed therein the frusto-conical recess 41 receiving the butt end of the pole to hold the pole against displacement out of the trolling device. The inember 48 can be held in any desired position by means of the wing nut 41', which clamps the pivot arms 48 of the member 46 in any desired angular position and which can be loosened to allow the member 4B to be moved into the plane of the member 25 lwhen the device is folded, as shown in Figure 3.

The arms 48, as will be noted in Figures 3 and 4, are of bell crank form, and the free ends 49 thereof are adapted to receive the `base portion 58 of a ring member 52, which ring member is preferably covered with a flexible resilient tubing 53, and which may be moved into position to frictionally press against the butt portion of the rod 43 to hold it against displacement, there being a suitable spring 54 provided biased Ibetween the ring 52 and the member "t6 normally urging the 5' ring 52 away from the member 48.

In the operation of the device, as described, it is normally transported in the position shown in Figure 3, being folded into a compact bundle to facilitate carrying the same. To set the device into operative position, the spud I5 is withdrawn from the clip 23 and ymoved. to a position such as shown in Figure l. The opposite end of the body member 1 is then clamped to a boat seat, it being noted that the clamp member 9 consists of two fingers 9', while the clamp member l0 comprises a tongue portion extending under the seat. This clamping arrangement insures that the body portion 1 will be held against cocking movement when clamped to the boat seat.

The wing nut 29 is then loosened and the rod supporting member 25 can then be moved into any desired position, such as indicated by the dotted vlines 25 in Figure 4. The desired lateral adjustment being provided, the wing nut 29 is tightened whereby the rod supporting member 25 is locked into position. It will be apparent also that the member 25 may be moved longitudinally relative to the -body member 1 along the slot 28. After the desired position of the member 25 has been secured, the wing nut 31 is loosened and the arms 34 can then be rotated out of the position shown in Figure 3 into any desired position, such as shown in Figure 1. The saddle member 38 is then rotated into a position to receive the pole adjacent its reel support, and the nut 42 can then be tightened to hold the saddle in its desired position. The end piece 46 is then rotated upwardly away from the member 1 into a position to receive the butt end of the pole within the socket 41, at the same time, the ring member 52 being placed over the top of the butt handle to hold the butt of the rod within the socket. The wing nut 41 can then be tightened to hold these parts in proper position whereby the pole will be held in any desired position for trolling.

With the various adjustments provided by the present invention, it is possible to point the pole or trolling rod in any desired position vertically and laterally, whereby the rod may be held out normal to the direction of the movement of the boat, or may be directed angulariy toward the rear or front end of the boat, or may also be raised or lowered in a vertical plane, depending upon the particular desires of the fisherman. Also, when the device is not in use, it can be folded into a compact bundle for easy transportation and storage.

We are aware that changes may be made in certain details of the present construction without in any way departing from the underlying principles thereof, and We therefore do not intend to be limited, except as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A trolling device for use in a boat having a transverse seat, comprising a main body portion having means at one end thereof for frictionally clamping the same to the edge of said seat, adjustable means hinged to the other end of said portion forming a strut to the floor of said boat for supporting said body portion in a generally horizontal position, a carrier` member pivotally mounted for horizontal movement on said body portion and movable longitudinally thereof, a saddle member on said carrier memberfor receiving a fish pole adjacent its butt end and adjustable to various angular positions, and a butt-receiving element hinged to one end of said carrier member for receiving the butt end of said pole, the angular position of said saddle. member determining the angle of elevation Vof said pole.`

2. A trolling device comprising a generally longitudinal body portion, means at one end thereof for frictionally clamping said end to the edge of a boat seat, means hinged to the other end of said body portion forming a diagonal strut between the floor of the boat and said other end holding said clamped end against displacement from said seat and supporting said body portion in a generally horizontal position projecting away from said seat, and means adjustably mounted on said body portion for supporting a fish pole thereon in adjusted position as to elevation and angularly relative to the line of travel of the boat.

3. A trolling device comprising a main body portion supported in a generally horizontal position coplanar with a boat seat and held against longitudinal movement toward or away from said seat, a pole carrier member mounted for both longitudinal and pivotal movement on said body portion, a saddle member pivotally carried by said carrier member and swingable into adjusted position vertically relative thereto, a butt receiving socket member hinged to said carrier member for receiving the butt end of a pole with the pole being supported intermediate its ends in said saddle member.

4. The trolling device of claim 3 ,further characterized in that said saddle member is adjustable longitudinally of said carrier member as well as vertically to produce any desired angle of elevation of said pole.

5. The trolling device of claim 3 wherein said saddle member comprises a U-shaped pcrtion receiving the pole adjacent its reel seat and is supported by a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said carrier member for movement in a vertical plane, and means for clamping said arms in any desired angular position.

6. The trolling device of claim 3 wherein said saddle member comprises a U-shaped portion, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said carrier member and pivotally supporting said U-shaped portion, and means for clamping said U-shaped portion in various angular positions relative to said arms.

'7. 'Ihe combination, in a trolling device, of a body portion having a longitudinal slot therein, a carrier member having a pivoting clamp portion for clamping said member in any desired angular position in said slot, fish pole supporting means carried by said member and adjustable to maintain the pole at a predetermined angular elevation relative to said carrier member, and means at opposite ends of said body portion for supporting it in a boat, comprising a resilient clamp at one end for clamping said end to the edge of a boat seat, and a hinged supporting element at the other end having an adjustable spud engaging the floor of said boat to hold said body portion in a generally horizontal position.

8. The combination, in a trolling device, of a body portion, a carrier member having a pivoting clamp portion for clamping said member in any desired angular position to said body porz tion, fish pole supporting means carried by said member and adjustable to maintain the pole at a predetermined angular elevation relative to said carrier member, and means at opposite ends of said body portion for supporting it in a boat, said last-named means including a friction clamp at one end over said body portion engageable with the edge of a boat seat, and an adjustable strut hinged to the other end of said body portion and extending Idownwardly and outwardly to the iloor of the boat to maintain said body portion in a horizontal position and against longitudinal movement away from the edge of said boat seat.

9. The combination, in a trolling device, of a body portion, a carrier member having a Divoting clamp portion for clamping said member in any desired angular position to said body portion, sh pole supporting means carried by said member and adjustable to maintain the pole at a predetermined angular elevation relative to said carrier member, and means at opposite ends of said body portion for supporting it in a boat, said last-named means including a clamp adjustably carried by one end of said body portion for frictionally clamping said end to the edge of the boat seat, said clamp being capable of adjustment whereby said body portion can extend horizontally in, above or below the plane of said seat.

1G. A trolling device comprising a body portion, means hinged to one end thereof adapted to form an angular supporting strut and folclable up against the undersurface of said body portion when not in use, a` carrier member paralleling said body portion and adapted to be clamped thereto in any desired angular relation, axially spaced sh pole supporting means pivotally mounted independently on said member for lsupporting a pole at any desired angular elevation relative to said member, said last-named means being separately foldable downwardly into the plane of said member when not in use, whereby said device can be folded into a compact unit for carrying.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said pole supporting means includes a butt-receiving socket member hinged to one end of said carrier, and a saddle portion hinged to said carrier and adapted to be clamped in any desired elevated position relative thereto.

l2. The device of claim 10 including clip means for holding said strut means in folded position against said body portion.

13. In a fish pole supporting device, a body portion having a channel-shaped resilient `clamp at one end adapted for frictional engagement with the edge of a boat seat, a strut hinged to the opposite end of -said body portion and arranged to engage at its free end in the oor of said boat to form an angular brace supporting said device in horizontal position extending toward the edge of said boat seat and holding said clamp in engagement, and iish pole supporting means including a carrier member therefor adjustably mounted on said body member.

14. A ish pole supporting device including a longitudinal body member having a hinged strut at one end adapted to engage the floor of a boat, a friction clamp at the other end engageable with the edge of a boat seat whereby said member is supported in generally horizontal position projecting normally to the edge of said seat, a carrier member pivotally mounted on said body member for rotation about a vertical axis, and spaced cradle and butt means pivotally mounted for vertical adjustment relative to said carrier member and adapted to receive the reel portion and butt end, respectively, of a fish pole.

l5. A fish pole supporting device including a generally horizontally arranged body portion, a carrier member pivotally mounted thereon for horizontal angular adjustment, a generally U- shaped cradle member having elongated lateral edges forming a seat for holdingr a fishing reel in upright position, arm means pivotally mounting said cradle on said member, an axially spaced pivotally mounted butt socket on said member for receiving the butt end of a sh pole, whereby said pole is held against rotation and may be readily lifted off of said cradle.

ALLEN M. DAVIDSON. CLARENCE A. KING. 

